Aiming to avoid three straight defeats, Rennes welcome Champions League hopefuls Nice to Roazhon Park for a Ligue 1 battle on Saturday night.
Les Rouge et Noirs suffered a loss at the home of Toulouse last time out, whilst Le Gym's excellent form continued with the beating of Reims on home soil.
Match preview
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After a run of four straight top-six finishes between 2020 and 2023, Rennes have suffered a decline over the past two years, with Saturday night's hosts set for back-to-back mid-table placements in Ligue 1, significantly lowering the overall mood at an often-boisterous Roazhon Park.
Les Rouge et Noirs have endured consecutive away defeats ahead of this weekend's clash against Nice, with the most recent of those losses arriving last Saturday afternoon, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from Yann Gboho and Aron Donnum were enough for Toulouse to claim victory.
Netting a momentary equaliser last time out, substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga provided a magical moment off the bench in scoring his 15th Ligue 1 goal of the 2024-25 campaign, meaning that the former Paris Saint-Germain youngster trails only Ousmane Dembele (21), Mason Greenwood (18) and Jonathan David (16) in the division's Golden Boot race.
Earning a modest six points across their last five top-flight matches, Rennes are currently occupying 11th spot in the Ligue 1 rankings with only two matches remaining of the season, just seven points ahead of Le Havre in the relegation-playoff spot and three points behind Auxerre in 10th.
Whilst that buffer between themselves and danger means that top-flight football will continue at Roazhon Park into next term, there will be considerable change in the ranks of Rennes, who are expected to wave goodbye to 40-year-old goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at the expiration of his contract.
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After missing out on a spot in the qualifying rounds for the Champions League by just four points last season, Nice are on a mission to avoid a similarly-heartbreaking fate this time around, with Saturday night's visitors looking to extend their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to five matches.
Le Gym became the first side to conquer the might of runaway champions and European finalists PSG in the top flight on April 25, when a brilliant brace from a returning Morgan Sanson and a second-half strike from Youssouf Ndayishimiye secured maximum points at Parc des Princes.
Currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak in the division, Nice have moved up to fourth spot in the Ligue 1 table ahead of matches against Rennes and Brest to conclude the campaign, one point behind third-placed Monaco in the lowest of the automatic Champions League places.
Despite having fewer shots on target last time out, Le Gym managed to snatch three points off Reims at Allianz Riviera on May 2, when former Aston Villa man Sanson netted his third goal in just four matches since returning to the first-team pitch at the beginning of April.
Nice have lost their last two trips to Roazhon Park in Ligue 1, with their most recent success at the venue versus Rennes coming back in December 2021, when efforts from Kasper Dolberg and Youcef Atal won the day for Christophe Galtier's side.
Team News
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Rennes are unable to call upon the services of defender Alidu Seidu, who has been sidelined since late November owing to a serious knee injury.
Les Rouge et Noirs' options at centre-back are limited further by the absence of Jeremy Jacquet, with the teenager suffering a calf strain last month.
Managing just two minutes for the hosts this season, Ayanda Sishuba is occupying a spot in his team's medical room because of a hamstring problem.
Experienced at competing on the top stages of European football, Nice's Tanguy Ndombele is sidelined at the moment due to a groin issue.
In the backline of Le Gym, Mohamed Abdelmonem's campaign has been curtailed by a cruciate ligament injury sustained during the victory over PSG on April 25.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Samba; Wooh, Rouault, Brassier; Assignon, Blas, Kone, James, Truffert; Meite, Kalimuendo-Muinga
Nice possible starting lineup:
Bulka; Mendy, Bombito, Bard; Clauss, Boudaoui, Rosario, Sanson, Abdi; Bouanani, Laborde
We say: Rennes 0-1 Nice
Honing in on a Champions League spot, Nice should fancy their chances of extending their winning run to four games at Roazhon Park on Saturday.
Rennes' campaign has petered out into mid-table mediocrity, meaning that the emphasis is on Le Gym to bring plenty of energy and escape with maximum points.
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Carter White
